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amead17 · 09-14-2025, 12:16 AM

NEW TEAMS, NEW NAMES AS BASEBALL LOOKS TO 1903

By Samuel T. Kingsley, Sporting Times
Additional reporting by Charles H. Wentworth, Sporting Times
October 14th, 1902

With the second season of organized Major League Baseball completed and the Pittsburgh Pirates crowned champions once more, the game now turns its gaze toward 1903. The coming campaign promises a fresh landscape, as several clubs prepare for new identities, and one club even for a new home.

The most dramatic change comes with the departure of the Baltimore Orioles, whose brief two-year tenure has ended. Once a strong side in 1901, the Orioles languished at the foot of the American League table this past summer. Ownership, citing waning support in Baltimore and brighter prospects elsewhere, has resolved to relocate the club to the bustling metropolis of New York. There, under the guidance of John McGraw, the team will begin a new chapter as the New York Highlanders.

McGraw, ever fiery and forthright, greeted the announcement with determination. “New York is the grandest stage in the land,” he remarked. “Our lads will not be content to merely fill a place in the standings. The Highlanders will play with grit and with pride, and we shall give New York the kind of baseball it deserves.”

Meanwhile, two clubs prepare to greet the new year under fresh banners. The Cleveland Bronchos, who this past season returned to respectability, have chosen yet another new moniker — this time becoming the Cleveland Naps. The club’s directors explained that the change reflects a desire for a sharper, shorter name that better captures the spirit of the team and its ambitions, leaving behind the clumsy “Bronchos” label. Manager Jimmy McAleer offered his thoughts: “A name alone doesn’t win ballgames, but it can give a club a clearer identity. We want Cleveland to take pride in its ball team, and with this new name, I believe the bond will only grow stronger.”

In Chicago, the Orphans, long struggling under the shadow of departed stars, will now be known as the Chicago Cubs, a nod to the youthful energy that management believes will lead them to brighter days. Skipper Tom Loftus said: “We are a club of youngsters, eager to prove ourselves. ‘Cubs’ may sound tender, but make no mistake, these lads are growing into their strength. In time, Chicago will see them roar.”

Thus, as the autumn leaves fall and the champions from Pittsburgh celebrate their triumph, the rest of the league prepares for a season of renewal. New York, Cleveland, and Chicago will stride into 1903 with fresh names and bold ambitions, proof once more that baseball remains ever in motion.

09-14-2025, 12:16 AM	#80
amead17 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 9,288	Off Season starts with team changes NEW TEAMS, NEW NAMES AS BASEBALL LOOKS TO 1903 By Samuel T. Kingsley, Sporting Times Additional reporting by Charles H. Wentworth, Sporting Times October 14th, 1902 With the second season of organized Major League Baseball completed and the Pittsburgh Pirates crowned champions once more, the game now turns its gaze toward 1903. The coming campaign promises a fresh landscape, as several clubs prepare for new identities, and one club even for a new home. The most dramatic change comes with the departure of the Baltimore Orioles, whose brief two-year tenure has ended. Once a strong side in 1901, the Orioles languished at the foot of the American League table this past summer. Ownership, citing waning support in Baltimore and brighter prospects elsewhere, has resolved to relocate the club to the bustling metropolis of New York. There, under the guidance of John McGraw, the team will begin a new chapter as the New York Highlanders. McGraw, ever fiery and forthright, greeted the announcement with determination. “New York is the grandest stage in the land,” he remarked. “Our lads will not be content to merely fill a place in the standings. The Highlanders will play with grit and with pride, and we shall give New York the kind of baseball it deserves.” Meanwhile, two clubs prepare to greet the new year under fresh banners. The Cleveland Bronchos, who this past season returned to respectability, have chosen yet another new moniker — this time becoming the Cleveland Naps. The club’s directors explained that the change reflects a desire for a sharper, shorter name that better captures the spirit of the team and its ambitions, leaving behind the clumsy “Bronchos” label. Manager Jimmy McAleer offered his thoughts: “A name alone doesn’t win ballgames, but it can give a club a clearer identity. We want Cleveland to take pride in its ball team, and with this new name, I believe the bond will only grow stronger.” In Chicago, the Orphans, long struggling under the shadow of departed stars, will now be known as the Chicago Cubs, a nod to the youthful energy that management believes will lead them to brighter days. Skipper Tom Loftus said: “We are a club of youngsters, eager to prove ourselves. ‘Cubs’ may sound tender, but make no mistake, these lads are growing into their strength. In time, Chicago will see them roar.” Thus, as the autumn leaves fall and the champions from Pittsburgh celebrate their triumph, the rest of the league prepares for a season of renewal. New York, Cleveland, and Chicago will stride into 1903 with fresh names and bold ambitions, proof once more that baseball remains ever in motion.